13 Fire Safety Items You Should Always Have In The House

“The number one thing where we can all start with being prepared in our home for fire is smoke alarms,” Kozo said. “There are quite a few statistics out there that say that having and maintaining working smoke alarms reduces your chances of dying in a fire by 50%. The number one thing we advocate and insist is that people have working smoke alarms in every room.”

After installing a fire alarm in every room of your home, Kozo recommends testing each alarm once a month. “You still have to test it monthly, make sure that it’s working properly, make sure that there’s no dust in there,” he said.

This 120-volt AC smoke detector comes with a 9-volt battery and a 10-year warranty. You can purchase a single alarm or a pack of three, six or 12.

In addition to smoke alarms, Kozo urges you to have a carbon monoxide alarm on every level of your home.

“Install carbon monoxide alarms to alert your family to this invisible, odorless, colorless gas before it’s too late,” Krista Farley Raines, regional communications director for American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region, told HuffPost. “A small amount of carbon monoxide can poison or kill a person if it is breathed in over a long period of time — such as overnight while sleeping.”

This carbon monoxide alarm lasts up to five years and uses a 9-volt battery.

“If you have battery-powered smoke alarms, replace the batteries at least once a year,” Farley Raines said. “Check the batteries when the time changes from standard to daylight saving each spring and then back again in the fall.”

Many smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (like the two we listed) use 9-volt batteries; this two-pack from Energizer has a five-year shelf life.

During a fire, you may not have time to clearly communicate who else is in your home. Farley Raines says putting firefighter rescue alert stickers on your outside windows and doors can instruct the team on who may still need to be rescued. “Firefighter rescue alert stickers placed on windows help firefighters locate children, the elderly, disabled residents and pets,” she said.

This fire rescue alert is a matte vinyl sticker that comes in five sizes.

Kozo advises keeping two home fire extinguishers — one by the kitchen in the event of a small kitchen fire and one in your bedroom if there’s a fire near where you or your family is sleeping. However, he’s explicit when he says a home fire extinguisher is a tool to help you safely exit your home — not completely put out a house fire.

“We don’t recommend you try to act as a firefighter and put out this huge fire,” Kozo said. “After about 45 seconds or so, the fire’s gonna be beyond your control. That extinguisher, you’ll be able to knock down just enough fire where you’ll be able to get out safe or maybe get to your children’s bedroom or something like that.”

“Fire escape ladders provide a simple, easy-to-store way to help ensure that you and your family get out safely in the event of a house fire,” Farley Raines said. “If you live in a two- or three-story home, you should have one ladder in every occupied room on floors above the main level.”

This tangle-free fire ladder measures 13 feet and can hold up to 1,000 pounds.

When a fire emergency strikes, you don’t have time to collect your valuables from different drawers. To give you peace of mind and to help you leave the building as quickly as possible, Farley Raines recommends storing important items in a fire-proof safe that can be recovered after the fire is put out. Instead of having one more thing to look for, grab and take with you out of the burning house, you can make sure you and your family are safe, knowing your jewelry and old photos will be protected as well.

This safety box is fireproof and waterproof; it can hold letter and A4 size documents lying down.

When it comes to fire preparedness, Heggie says you want to think about the P’s: papers, prescriptions, plastic (meaning credit cards or cash) and pets. This portable, expandable fireproof and water-resistant file can contain and organize all your important papers and files. It can store spare cash and credit cards as well.

Keep your prescriptions ready and protected with this waterproof and moisture-proof pill organizer. It has slots for every day of the week and a carrying handle, so it’s easy to grab quickly.

Heggie urges you to keep food and water for your human family in your to-go bag. He also recommends packing everything your pet may need, like their food and medications or an extra leash. This is a set of two collapsible food and water bowls that stack easily and make an instant space for your pet to eat and drink on the go.

As Heggie says, every family’s to-go bag will look different. Still, he shares that a first-aid kit is something all families will be glad to have. This one contains everything from bandages to ibuprofen tablets.

In addition to first-aid supplies, Heggie says you’ll want to have some toiletries for you and your family. Rather than running around the house finding things in the moment, this kit has everything you need including deodorant, toothpaste and a razor.

Per Heggie, flashlights are useful in any sort of emergency, especially if a fire happens at night. This set comes with two high-powered, waterproof flashlights. Heggie says to make sure you have extra batteries for the flashlights and other devices you may need.

This medium-sized document bag is designed to withstand temperatures up to 2,000 degrees thanks to its double-layered, silicone-coated fiberglass. (The silicone coating also promises to make this item waterproof.)

It’s designed with seven built-in file folders, four mesh bags for storing passports or money, 16 card slots, four pockets for discs, and a larger main pocket for binders and larger document stacks.

The bag has a built-in lock that you can set with a customized combination, and has a wide handle so you can easily travel with it.

It’s 14.17 by 10.63 by 3.93 inches, and is available in two colors.

Promising review: “I am loving my new safe storage for important documents, I have a place to keep passports, wedding license, car titles, mortgages and wedding photos and if disaster happens I can have my mind at ease in this case, love that it has a Fireproof zipper, code lock design and strong handle add storage security and carrying safety. More wider strap handle design on the back allows you to insert a suitcase handle. I like I have a choice I can you put it in my home, office, car, safe box, or any cabinet, and take it anywhere i go.” — Jenn A

This document bag was designed by professional firefighters, who purportedly put the bag through a house fire simulation where it was exposed to direct flames, radiant heat and water to ensure its durability through fire and water.

The outside of the bag is covered with high-visibility reflective tape to help ensure that you’ll be able to easily find it with a flashlight in a nighttime emergency. It comes with a top handle or a crossbody shoulder strap for hands-free carrying. (Note: It does not have a lock.)

Its large internal pocket is made with the same material as the fireproof, water-resistant outer layer, giving your documents and important items double the protection. The bag comes with a Velcro-detachable wallet that’s also outfitted with the same reflective tape design to help with visibility; you can either keep it attached to the front for easy access, or store it inside the inner pocket for extra security.This fireproof document bag is 17 by 12 by 5 inches.

Promising reviews: “I purchased this document bag to hold all those life documents you can’t lose. I like it because it is just one big bag. No little compartments or organizing features. So it holds a large binder as well as many envelopes. I hope I never have to find out if it is really waterproof and fireproof! But for now, I feel like all my important documents are together in one place. The bag is very sturdy — I can pick it up by the handle and the Velcro closure does not loosen. Highly recommend.” — Sue Z. Stein

“This was a gift for a grandson just setting out in life and needing a safe place to keep all the important documents in one spot. Well made, and well organized!” — Anne Wingo

This fireproof and water-resistant option features a reflective strip for nighttime visibility and a customizable combination lock for added security. It’s spacious, with a number of organization features including eight mesh pockets, five file pockets and 10 cards slots, plus a main compartment and areas for discs and money.

In addition to a top handle and shoulder strap, the bag has a strap on its back that you can attach to the handle of rolling luggage for convenient travel.

This is also available in a version without a reflective strip.

Promising review: “I like the product. I’ve put all my important papers in this bag, and I will use it if and when I may have to evacuate during hurricanes. Having one place and one bag to get; when it may be short notice time to evacuate. I’ve even put a small first aid kit. It seems to be made well. Glad I made this purchase.” — Melissa Krueger

This set comes with a large document pouch designed for storing legal documents, laptops and photo albums, and a smaller pouch for safeguarding birth certificates, jewelry, money and more. They promise to resist fire and heat up to 2,000 degrees, as well as water.

Both bags feature a zipper enclosure that’s covered by an additional Velcro flap closure to help ensure everything stays tightly inside the pouches. (Note: They do not have locks.)

The larger pouch is 15 inches long and 11 inches wide, and the smaller one is 9 inches long and 7 inches wide. The smaller pouch can also fit inside of the larger one for extra protection. The set available in two colors.

Promising review: “I love that i can keep my cash and documents safe. Purchased for my son who has cash on hand, and got one for myself. My emergency fund needs to be safe and sound. Unlike a safe this can be hidden anywhere. Love it!” — Mary